Apparatus for and method of plying strands



March 7, 1967 A. w. VIBBER 3,307,342

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PLYING STRANDS Filed Spt. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 76 I I /0 FFGJ 57 INVENTOR.

A. W. VIBBER APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FLYING STRANDS March 7, 1967 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I NVENTOR. WM/UM March 1957 A. w. VIBBER 3,307,342

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FLYING STRANDS Filed Sept. 29, 1964 4Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIIIIIH 1 /09 my m7 INVENTOR Wyn/w March 7, 1967 A. w. VIBBER APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FLYING STRANDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 29, 1964 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,307,342 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF FLYING STRANDS Alfred W. Vibber, 630 th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10020 Filed Sept. 29, 1964, Ser. No. 400,065 30 Claims. (Cl. 57-.-58.3)

This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 386,161, filed July 30, 1964, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of twisting and/ or plying strands.

In a first disclosed embodiment, the invention particularly relates to an apparatus for and a method of plying strands together by rotating one strand about a source of supply of another strand, and plying the strands together beyond such source of the other strand. In a second disclosed embodiment, the invention relates to the control of the balloon of a singles strand twister.

The first disclosed embodiment of the invention is an improvement upon that of applicants prior patent, US. Patent No. 2,857,730, October 28, 1958. The apparatus and method of the present invention, although varying the speed of take-up of a plied cord away from the plying point in response to variations in the tension of one of the strands approaching the plying point, as does the apparatus of such patent, does so by simpler, more direct cord pulling means, which is directly driven by the said one strand. In the embodiments shown and described herein, such one strand is the outer, ballooned strand, the driving means for the means feeding the plied strand away from the plying point including rotatable means which is frictionally engaged by the strand in the balloon as such strand rotates. The force of engagement between the ballooning strand and the rotatable driving means is a function of the balloon size and/or shape, which, in turn, in the apparatus described, in a function of the tension in such strand. Accordingly, the feeding means for the plied cord of the present invention and the means for variably driving such feeding means is simple and direct, being driven at least in part directly by the balloon, the variable driving torque imposed upon such feeding means being directly varied as a result of changes in the balloon shape and/ or size.

The second disclosed embodiment of the invention is a singles strand twister, specifically of the two-for-one downtwister or infeed-ing type. The balloon of such twister is controlled in accordance with the invention, the taking-up of the strand from the balloon being powered by rotatable means which is frictionally engaged by the strand in the balloon as the balloon rotates.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel apparatus and method for twisting a strand.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel balloon creating twisting apparatus and method of the type above indicated for controlling the balloon by power derived directly from the balloon.

The invention has among its further objects the provision of a novel, simplified aparatus for twisting and/ or plying strands wherein the pull exerted on the plied strand to withdraw it from the plying point is varied in accordance with tension variations in a run of strand approaching the plying point.

Yet another object of the invention resides in the provision, in apparatus of the type indicated, of novel variable speed take-up means for the plied strand, the cord pulling effect of such take-up means varying in accordance with variations in the size and/ or shape of the rotating loop or balloon formed by such apparatus.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of a novel method of twisting and/or plying strands wherein the pull for feeding the plied cords away from the plying point is derived at least in part from the energy of rotation of the ballooning strand, and wherein such pulling force is varied in response to variations in the size and/or shape of the balloon.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention will more fully appear from the following description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts through the several views:

FIGS. 1 and 1A taken together constitute a view in elevation illustrating a strand plying and take-up arrangement according to a first embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 2A taken together constitute a view in elevation illustrating a plying and take-up arrangement according to a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in vertical axial section through the lower end portion of a third embodiment of twisting and plying spindle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in vertical axial section through the lower end portion of a fourth embodiment of twisting and plying spindle in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse section through the centrifugal clutch employed in such fourth embodiment of twisting and plying spindle, the section being taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view in side elevation of 21 singles strand twisting spindle of the two-for-one type incorporating the balloon controlling mechanism of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged View partially in side elevation and partially in vertical section through the variable speed take-up mechanism of the spindle of FIG. 6.

FIGS. 1 and 1A, when placed together along the line AA, show a first embodiment of spindle in accordance with the invention. FIGS. 2 and 2A, when placed together along the line A'--A', show a second embodiment of spindle in accordance with the invention.

The plying spindle of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A herein, with the exception of the variable speed means for pulling the plied cord away from the plying point and for taking it up, is essentially the same as that shown in FIGS. 1-4, inclusive, of applicants Patent No. 2,857,730. Accordingly, such portion of the apparatus is described only briefly here, reference being bad to Patent No. 2,857,730 for a more extensive description of this portion of the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, and first particularly to FIGS. 1 and 1A, there is shown a spindle, generally designated 10, for plying two strands together to form a cord. Such cord is useful, for example, as a reinforcement in automobile tires and V-belts. The spindle shown is of the skip type, performing a strand-wrapping operation which adds no twist to the respective strands. The spindle is supported on a frame which is partially shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, which comprises a support having a longitudinally extending beam 11. A post 12 extends upwardly from the beam 11 and carries on its upper end an overarm 14 having a bracket 15 with a guide pulley 16 thereon.

An outer strand package 17 is supported on a bracket which extends upwardly from the frame of the machine, the bracket rotatably supporting a holder for the package 17. The support for the package 17 carries a cage about the package, such cage mounting a guide pulley (not shown) for guiding the strand b from package 17 as such strand is delivered toward the cord-forming point or plying junction P. From such guide pulley, the strand b is led several times about an outer pair of driven strand metering rollers 19 and which pull the strand b from the package 17 at a controlled rate. In the illustrative embodiment, rollers 19 and 20 are driven from the main, hollow shaft 21 of the spindle 10 through the medium of gearing which is not here shown but which is shown and described in Patent No. 2,85 7,7 30. Shaft 21 is driven by a motor (not shown) through the medium of a belt 22 which is entrained over a pulley 24 on shaft 21.

From the metering rollers 19 and 20, strand b is led about a first fixed pulley 25 and thence upwardly to a second fixed pulley 26 from which it travels to the above mentioned pulley 16. Pulley 16 has its strand-delivering surface tangential to the central axis of the inner strand package A and above the central axis of the loop or balloon 27 formed in the strand b by rotation of the shaft 21 and of the flier 29 secured thereto.

From the pulley 16, the strand b passes downwardly through a hollow shaft or spindle 30, which carries a strand guide 31 at its lower end. Preferably, shaft is adjustably mounted on overarm 14, being held in adjusted position by a lock nut 32. Upon leaving the guide 31, strand b passes into its loop or balloon 27 and thence past the inner package 23 and through a guide eyelet 33 fixed in the outer periphery of the flier disc 29. As shaft 21 is rotated, the flier disc 29 and the guide eyelet therein rotate the strand b between the flier and the guide 31 above the inner package to form the described loop or balloon 27 in the yarn about the inner package 23.

The inner package 23 is mounted on a member 34 which is rotatably supported on shaft 21. Strand :2 is led from the package 23 to a first fixed pulley 35, a floating pulley 36, and a second pulley 37, to be fed to the laterally spaced inner metering rolls 39 and 40 which advance the strand a to a canted pulley 41 to be directed downwardly through the center of the hollow rotating shaft 21. Rolls 39 and 40 are journalled in the supporting member 34. As shown in FIG. 1, roll 39 is positively driven from shaft 21 by means of a worm secured to the shaft and a meshing worm gear on the shaft carrying roll 39. Roll 40 is idle. The strand metering means made up of rolls 39 and 40, as is also the case of the metering means made up of rollers 19 and 20, are driven in synchronism with shaft 21, and tend to forward their respective strands at substantially constant speed.

The two strands, strand b passing radially inwardly from its loop or balloon 27, and strand a passing generally axially of shaft 21, meet at the plying junction or point P and are united within the shaft 21. The resulting plied cord 0 thus formed is pulled downwardly out of the rotating shaft 21 to be wound on a take-up package generally shown at 42. The speed of pulling of the cord 0 away from the plying junction P is governed by a novel variable speed take-up mechanism to be described, the strand p111- ing effect of such mechanism being responsive to variations in size and/or shape of the balloon and thus of the tension of the strand b in the balloon.

Means are provided to prevent the supporting structure 34- for the metering rolls 39 and 40 and their appurtenant mechanism from rotating as the shaft 21 is rotated. Thus cooperating magnets 44 and 45, positioned respectively on member 34 and on fixed structure outside of the loop or balloon formed by the strand b, function to maintain the mechanism 34 in a fixed position in space.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, there is provided an idle auxiliary flier, generally designated 45, similar to that designated 130 in applicants pending application Ser. No. 275,416, filed April 24, 1963, now US. Patent No. 3,153,893. Such auxiliary flier has a radial arm 46 with a guiding eye 47 at its outer end, eye 47 guidingly receiving the strand b at a location intermediate the height of balloon 27. The auxiliary flier has a central body portion 49 which is rotatably mounted in a bearing means 50 secured to a lid 51 of a protective shell member 52 which surrounds the inner strand package 23. Member 52 is supported on package support 34, as shown.

After the strands a and b have been twisted together at the plying point P, the plied strand or cord 0 travels downwardly within the hollow shaft 21, emerging therefrom and travelling over fixedly positioned guide pulley 53 and 63 directly to a driven take-up capstan 54 from which it is forwarded to the above-mentioned take-up package 42. The capstan 54 is driven by power derived solely from the energy of the rotating loop or balloon of strand b by the following mechanism. A dish-like disc 55 having a central downwardly directed flange portion 58 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 56 supported in the housing 57 in which the main shaft 21 of the spindle is rotatably mounted. The rim 59 of disc 55 is rounded and downwardly bent at its upper edge, the upper surface of rim 59 lying somewhat above the path of the strand b between eye 33 on the flier 29 and the passage in shaft 21 leading to the plying point P. A guide roll 66 is shown mounted on shaft 21 at the outer end of such passage in shaft 21. The portion of strand b in such run thereof accordingly engages the rim 59 of disc 55 with a force which is a direct function of the tension in such portion of strand b. Such engagement between the strand b and the edge of the disc 55 tends to carry the disc with the strand as the latter rotates with the flier. The energy thus derived from the rotating strand loop is employed to drive the take-up capstan 54 in the following manner:

An annular gear 61 is secured to the central flange 58 of the disc 55 above the bearing 56. Meshing with gear 61 is a gear 62 which is fixed to a shaft 64 rotatably mounted in bearings 65 aflixed to frame member 11. Aflixed to shaft 64 at a location beyond the lower bearing 65 is a further pinion 69 which meshes with a gear 70 aflfixed to a further shaft 71 which is rotatably supported in fixedly sup-ported bearings (not shown) and lies parallel to shaft 64. A gear 73 afixed to shaft 71 meshes with a gear 78 on a further rotatable shaft 83. Shaft 83 drives the driven roller 67 of the take-up capstan 54 by means of a pair of meshing beveled gears 72 affixed, respectively, to shaft 83 and shaft upon which roller 67 is fixed. The plied strand or cord 0 is wrapped in a plurality of laterally spaced loops about the roller 67 and an opposed idle roller 67a so as to have substantially non-slipping engagement therewith. An idle presser roll 68 mounted upon a pivoted arm 84 is pressed against the turns of cord 0 on roller 67 by resilient means, not shown.

The diameter of roller 67, and the relative diameters of the gears 61, 62, 69, 70, and 73, 78 are such that the capstan 54 withdraws the cord c at the required speed, when the balloon or loop 27 is of the proper size and tension, the disc 55 being rotated at a speed which is somewhat less than that of the flier 29. As disclosed below, such speed of withdrawal of the cord 0 is varied upon variations in the tension of strand b in the loop or balloon in such manner as to restore the loop or balloon to the desired predetermined condition thereof. Take-up package 42 may be driven in any conventional manner, as by being frictionally rim driven, as shown.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, when the effective diameter of the loop or balloon increases, the tension in the strand b therein also increases. This produces a more forcible engagement between the strand and the portion 59 of the disc 55, thereby tending to drive the take-up capstan 54 at a higher speed and to impose a stronger pull upon cord c to withdraw it from the plying point P. When the described apparatus is operating stably to produce a balanced cord, the tension in the strands a and b approaching the plying point are equal and the resulting cord 0 contains equal lengths of the two singles strands a and b.

When, however, the tension in one of such singles strands increases relative to that in the other strand, the said one strand tends to become a core about which the other strand is wrapped. The plying point P is thus employed in the present apparatus as a balloon or loop size and tension control.

The assumed undue increase in tension in the strand b will, as stated, cause capstan 54 to pull cord 0 more forcefully. This, in turn, causes the inner strand a to function as a core about which the strand b is wrapped. Such momentary increase in the length of the strand b relative to that of strand a in the cord immediately causes the strand b to feed out of the balloon or loop at a higher speed than it is fed thereinto, and thus reduces the balloon or loop to the desired size.

When the tension in strand b approaching the plying point decreases unduly, the reverse action takes place. Capstan 54 is now driven less forcefully, the tension on cord 0 between such capstan and the plying spindle decreases, the tension in strand a approaching the plying point decreases, and thus relatively more of strand a and less of strand b is absorbed in the cord 6. Thus strand [2 is fed out of the balloon more slowly than it is fed thereinto, and the balloon is quickly restored to its optimum size and/or shape.

Although the invention is not to be limited thereto, the following conditions have ben found satisfactory in an apparatus constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A and operating as above described. The flier 21 may rotate, for example, at 7,000 r.p.rn. The relationship of the parts such as the gears driving the take-up capstan 54, the coefiicient of friction between strand b and disc 55, the diameter of rim 59 of disc 55, and so forth, are such that when the apparatus is operating stably, disc 55 rotates at a speed of about 6,800 r.p.m., which means that the strand b will slide or slip around the rim 59 of disc 55 at a rate of 200 times a minute. When the tension in the loop increases, the speed of such slippage decreases; when such tension decreases, the speed of slippage increases. Since the disc 55 rotates in the same direction as and at a speed not greatly below that of flier 21, no undue heating of strand b takes place by reason of its frictional driving engagement with rim 59 of disc 55.

As stated, the cord 0 has substantially non-slipping engagement with capstan 54. Thus the slippage in the systern which pulls the cord away from the plying point takes place substantially entirely between the rim 59 of disc 55 and the run of strand [2 inwardly from the guiding eye on the flier. The force of sliding friction is roughly independent of the speed of sliding and independent of the area of contact, and is proportional to the force which is normal to the engaging surfaces and which presses them together. Accordingly, the torque which is imposed upon the disc 55 by the rotating run of strand b which engages it is substantially a function of the tension in such run of the strand. Such tension, as we have seen, is a function of balloon or loop size or shape. Thus the described mechanism directly varies the pull exerted,

upon the cord 0 to withdraw it from the plying point as a function of the tension, as well as size and shape, of the balloon or loop.

A second embodiment of strand twisting and plying apparatus in accordance with the invention is shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Such embodiment of spindle, which is generally designated 10', is generally similar to that of FIGS. 1 and 1A except that it does not employ an auxiliary flier, and the means driving the take-up capstan by energy derived from the rotating loop or balloon is a generally bowl shape and has an annular rim engaging the rotating strand in advance of or above the flier. Accordingly, parts in FIGS. 2 and 2A which are similar to those in FIGS. 1 and 1A are designated by the same reference characters but with an added prime.

The rotatable bowl shaped member of this embodiment is designated 89, and the upper outer annular rim thereof which engages the strand in the rotating loop is designated 90. Member 89 has a central tube-like portion 58' which is rotatably supported in the housing 57' of the spindle by a bearing 56'. Member 89 is drivingly connected to the shaft 64' through the medium of a gear 61 aflixed to flange 58 of member 89 and a gear 62' fixedly connected to shaft 64 and meshing with gear 61. The take-up capstan 54' is drivingly connected to the shaft 64 in the same manner as in FIG. 1, and need not be here further described. Instead of a can-like enclosure as employed in the first embodiment, the inner package A is surrounded by a cage 96 which is mounted on supporting member 34'. Such cage has a guide pulley 97 mounted thereon, as shown, such pulley serving to guide strand a in its passage downwardly to the pulley 36', on its way to the inner capstan 39', 40'. It will be apparent that the rotating strand b engages the rim of member 89 more forcibly when the loop increases in di ameter and less forcibly when the loop decreases in diameter, thereby imposing more and less, respectively, driving torque from the loop on the member 89. Thus the takeup capstan 54' imparts a greater forwarding pull on the cord 0' when the balloon expands, and a smaller forwarding pull thereon when the balloon contracts, there to correct such deviations in size of the balloon. The described mechanism functions in the manner described, regardless of whether the expansion in the diameter of the loop is accompanied by an increase or decrease in the tension of strand b in the loop, and regardless of whether the decrease in the diameter of the loop is accompanied by an increase or decrease in the tension of the strand b in the loop.

After issuing from the take-up capstan 54', the cord is forwarded to a take-up package 42' which rests upon driven rolls, so as to be rim-driven therefrom. Cord c is laid upon package 42' by conventional means (not shown). The rolls which drive the package 42' and the means for laying the cord thereon may be driven by separate means such as an electric motor, not shown.

In FIG. 3 the apparatus as shown is generally the same as that of FIGS. 2 and 2A, except that there is added thereto means yieldably coupling the flier of the spindle to the rotatable bowl-like member here designated 89 so as to impose thereon a substantial portion of the driving torque required by the take-up capstan directly by the flier. Such coupling means takes the form of a plurality of radially inwardly-directed impeller blades 99, secured to the inner surface of the member 89' in the vicinity of the flier, and a plurality of impeller blades mounted on the outer edge of the flier, here designated 29", beyond the guiding eye 33 therethrough. The confronting edges of blades 99 and 100 are shown as being generally parallel to each other and spaced a short distance apart. Impeller blades 99 and 100, in effect, constitute a fluid clutch, the fluid coacting with the blades being atmospheric air.

The rotation of the blades 100 with the flier imposes a substantial torque upon the blades 99 on the member 89' when there is substantial relative rotation between the flier and such member. The air clutch 99, 100 functions effectively to drive the take-up capstan from the flier during the operations of starting and stopping the spindle. When the flier has reached its normal constant operating speed, there still exists a substantial difference in the speeds of rotation of the flier and the member 89, so that the air clutch contributes a substantial portion of the total driving torque which is necessary to drive the take-up capstan. Under steady operating conditions, the power thus applied to the take-up capstan through the air clutch 99, 100 is substantially constant. To such power there is added the variable driving power or torque which is de rived from engagement ofjhe strand b with the rim 90' of member 89'. Since, in this embodiment, such strand engagement is not required to be the sole source of power for the take-up capstan, such strand engagement is substantially less forceful than the engagement between the strand and the circular capstan-driving member in the embodmient of FIG. 1.

The air clutch 99, 100, tends to discharge the air from the confronting blades thereof upwardly and outwardly over the rim 90 of member 89, there-by to cool such rim. The lower, generally horizontal portion of member 89' may, if desired, be provided with a plurality of holes 103 through which atmospheric air may be drawn to pass between the blades 99 and 100 as described. The air clutch shown in FIG. 3 may, with appropriate modifications, be employed to couple the flier and the circular rotatable capstan-driving member engaged by the strand of the loop in the above described embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 1A and of FIG. 3, as well as that in the embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A.

The spindle of FIGS. 4 and 5 is generally the same as that shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Consequently, parts in FIGS. 4 and 5 which are the same as those in FIGS. 2 and 2A are designated by the same reference characters. The embodiment in FIGS. 4 and 5 differs from that of FIGS. 2 and 2A by the incorporation in the latter embodiment of a centrifugally operated clutch which functions drivingly, frictionally to couple the main shaft of the spindle to the rotatable loop engaging member when such shaft is at rest and also when it is running at speeds which are somewhat less than its normal, constant operating speed.

The rotatable strand engaging member 101 shown in FIG. 4 is generally in the form of a modified bowl, a portion of the wall of the member intermediate its width being of circular cylindrical shape, and coaxial of the main shaft 21' of the spindle, as shown at 102. Within the seat thus formed by wall portion 102, there is disposed a centrifugal clutch 104 having a disc-like body 105 which is keyed to the shaft 21 at 106. As shown more clearly in FIG. 5 wherein the parts of the clutch 104 are shown in the positions they assume when shaft 21 is at rest, the body 105 is provided with two oppositely disposed generally radial guideways 107 within which are mounted oppositely disposed reciprocable shoes 108 which are made of relatively light material such as aluminum. The outer, part-cylindrical'ends of members 108 are provided with friction surface members 109 which are dapted to engage the inner surface 110 of the portion 102 of member 101. Members 108 are constantly urged radially outwardly toward surface 110 by means of coil compression springs 114 acting between the opposite shoes. The inner end of each shoe 108 is of T-shape, having laterally projecting portions 111 thereon. Springs 114 are mounted with their opposite ends telescoped over aligned pins 112 on the portions 111 of the shoes. The force exerted upon the shoes 108 by springs 114 is such as frictionally to couple member 101 to the shaft 21 when the shaft is at rest. Effective driving but yielding coupling between shaft 21 and member 101 is maintained until the shaft 21' has reached a speed which is close to but somewhat below the normal operating speed of rotation of member 101, at which such driving connection is completely uncoupled.

Such control of the shoes 108 is provided by oppositely disposed weights 115, made of heavy material such as iron or steel, which are connected to each other and to the shoes by links 117 pivotally connected in the form of a parallelogram, the weights and links being disposed within a symmetrical space between the upper and lower Walls of the clutch body 105. Such links are connected to the weights 115 by pivot pins 116 and to the shoes 108 by the pivot pins 119.

It will be apparent that as the shaft 21' and the body 105 of the clutch connected thereto rotate, the weights 115 are subjected to centrifugal force which tends to move them radially outwardly. Because weights 115 are markedly heavier than shoes 108, the weights tend to withdraw the shoes 108 from the inner wall 110 of portion 102 of member 101. In the described embodiment, the parts of the centrifugal clutch are so constructed and arranged that the centrifugal force to which weights are subjected is insuflicient to fully overcome springs 114, and thus effectively withdraw the shoes 108 from the wall 110, until the shaft 21' has reached a speed which is near but somewhat below the normal speed of rotation of the member 101. At such speed, the weights 115 will engage the outer walls of body 105 defining the central space in such body.

It will be apparent from the above that the centrifugal clutch 104 assists the strand b in the rotating loop in accelerating the bowl-like member 101 to its operating speed, when the spindle is started. The yieldable driving connection between shaft 21' and the member 101 afforded by the centrifugal clutch prevents the subjection of the cord 0 and the singles strand a to undue tension under spindle starting conditions, in which the speed of the take up capstan somewhat exceeds the relative speeds of the capstans which forward the singles strands a and b to the plying point. The acceleration of the spindle to its normal operating speed requires only a short time, after which the centrifugal clutch 104 is no longer effective, the control of the speed of the take-up capstan then being effected only by the engagement of the strand b in the rotating loop as described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 2, or by such strand engagement and an air clutch such as that shown at 99, 100 in FIG. 3, if such air clutch is employed in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. It will also be apparent that the centrifugal clutch 104 also functions to maintain an effective but yieldable driving con-' nection between the shaft 21' and the strand engaging member 101 during the stopping of the spindle, thereby maintaining the cord 0' in taut condition between the plying point of the spindle and the take-up capstan after the rotating loop of strand b has ceased effectively to drive the member 101. I

In FIGS. 6 and 7 there is shown a second embodiment of twisting spindle incorporating a balloon control in accordance with the invention. The spindle there shown is a two-for-one singles strand twister wherein the strand 121 from a source not shown is fed forwardly to the spindle by a capstan 122 which is driven at constant speed and which feeds the strand at constant speed through a central apex guide 124 into the balloon 125 former by the rotating flier 126 of the spindle. The flier 126 is fixedly connected to a hollow main shaft 127 of the spindle, the shaft being rotatably supported in bearings in a fixed frame member 129 and driven by a belt 130 entrained over a pulley 131 affixed to the lower end of the shaft. The belt may be driven by suitable means such as an electric motor (not shown).

The strand 121 passes through an eye 132 at the lower end of the balloon proper, passing generally radially inwardly from the eye to a variable speed take-up capstan device generally designated 134 mounted on shaft 127 so as to rotate as a whole therewith. From the capstan device 134 the strand passes upwardly axially of shaft 127 through the center of a take-up bobbin 135 mounted on a support on the shaft 127, then passing outwardly above the bobbin and down to a reciprocating strand laying device geenrally designated 136. The support for the bobbin is supported on bearings on the shaft, as shown, and is maintained fixed by conventional \means, not shown, such as cooperating magnets positioned inwardly and outwardly of the balloon, respectively. Alternatively, the spindle may be tipped somewhat with respect to the vertical, and the bobbin support may be eccentrically weighted, thereby maintaining it from rotation with the shaft. The bobbin is rotated about its axis to wind the strand thereon by a frictional driving means powered from the shaft 127. The strand laying means 136 is also driven from shaft 127. Since the bobbin and strand laying driving means are conventional in the art, they are not specifically illustrated.

The strand take-up capstan 134 has a construction somewhat similar to that shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of applicants US. Patent No. 2,729,932, dated January 10, 6'.

A capstan roll 137 is mounted on an axle shaft 139 within the root or hub of the flier, the roll 137 being disposed transversely of the axis of shaft 127 and eccentrically thereof so that the inner surface of the strand receiving central portion of the roll lies generally tangent to the axis of shaft 127. The strand 12 1 is wrapped about the central portion of roll 137 so as to have non-slipping engagement therewith. Thus the speed of rotation of roll 137 about its axis determines the rate of withdrawal of the strand 121 from the balloon 125. The capstan roll 137 is driven at a variable speed under the control of the balloon in such manner as to maintain the balloon of a predetermined desired size in the following manner.

Identical pinions 140 (one shown) are fixed to the opposite ends of capstan roll 137, beyond the central, strand engaging portion of the roll. A composite worm and pinion member 141 is journalled in the hub of the flier below and parallel with roll 137, member 141 having pinions 144 (one shown) on its opposite ends meshing with pinions 140 on the capstan roll. Member 141 is provided with a centrally disposed worm gear 142 which meshes with a worm 146 on a shaft 145 rotatably mounted axially within the hollow main shaft 127 of the spindle in suit-able bearings, as shown. The worm 146 and worm gear 142 are such that the drive therebetween is reversible. As will be seen, the apparatus of the invention is so constructed and arranged that shaft 145 is always driven by worm gear 142 and worm 146 in a direction opposite that of shaft 127.

In Patent No. 2,729,932 the similar central shaft 332 is variably retarded from rotation by an induction device 336, 340, 342 whereby the speed of driving of the capstan roll upon rotation of the flier and main shaft of the spindle may be varied. In accordance with the present invention, the central shaft 145 is variably retarded by torque derived directly by frictional engagement with the balloon itself.

A large gear 147 is affixed to the lower end of the central shaft 145 to rotate therewith. Gear 147 and shaft 145 are variably retarded from rotation at the same speed as the flier and main spindle shaft 127 by a bowl-like member 149 which is rotatably mounted coaxially of shaft 127 and receives the flier therewithin. Member 149 is mounted on support 129 by means of a central axially depending sleeve 150 on the member, such sleeve being journalled on the support in suitable bearings, as shown. The member 149 has an annular inturned rim 148 which variably engages the balloon 125 above the flier 126.

The sleeve 150 of member 149 has an annular gear 151 afiixed thereto. Meshing with gear 151 is a gear 152 aflixed to a shaft 154 which is mounted for rotation in bearings in extensions 155 on the fixed support 129. A pinion 156 fixed to the lower end of shaft 154 meshes with gear 147. It will be apparent that rotation of the bowl-like member is transmitted to capstan roll 137 through gears 151, 152, shaft 154, and gears 156, 147; 146, 142; and 144, 140.

The parts are made of such relative sizes and the hand of worm 146 and worm gear 142 is such that if the central shaft 145 were held fixed from rotation the capstan roll would be caused to rotate to feed the strand t bobbin 135 at a speed which is appreciably faster than that required to maitnain the balloon at its predetermined desired size. The shaft 145 is, however, not held from rotation. Instead, the torque reaction from worm gear 142 to worm 146 caused by the turning of the capstan 134 as a whole with shaft 127 and flier 126 tends to turn the shaft 145 in the direction opposite the direction of rotation of the shaft 127, the flier 126, and thus the balloon 125. The faster shaft 145 turns in such opposite direction, the more slowly does the capstan roll 137 rotate in a strand feeding direction.

The gearing between shaft 145 and the bowl-like member 149 is such that member 149 turns in the same direction as shaft 145, that is, opposite the direction of rotation of the balloon. When the balloon is at its optimum predetermined size or diameter, the strand in the balloon engages the rim 148 of the bowl-like member 149 lightly but with sufiicient force to retard its rotation sufliciently for capstan roll 137 to be driven at such speed as to feed the strand at the requisite speed to maintain the ball-oon of such diameter. Should the balloon expand in diameter, however, the strand in the balloon will engage rim 148 of member 149 more forcibly, thereby retarding its rotation and increasing the speed of driving of capstan roll 137 in the strand feeding direction. This restores the balloon to its optimum diameter. When the balloon decreases in size from such optimum diameter, the strand in the balloon engages rim 148 of member 149 more lightly, thereby causing member 149 and shaft to increase in speed and thus decreasing the speed of driving of capstan roll 137 in a strand forwarding direction. Such action quickly restores the balloon to its desired optimum diameter.

Although only a limited number of illustrative embodiments of apparatus for and method of twisting and plying strands in accordance with the present invention have been shown and described herein, it is to be especially understood that various changes, such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and the like, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of the invention may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A twisting spindle, comprising a rotatable shaft for rotating a loop of a strand, a firs-t means for feeding the strand into the loop, a second means for feeding the strand out of the loop, one of said first and second feeding means feeding the strand at a constant speed and the other of said feeding means feeding the strand at a variable speed, said variable speed feeding means comprising a rotatable capstan engaging the strand, an annular member rotata'bly supported on the axis of the rotating loop and adapted to be brushed against by an intermedi ate portion of the rotating loop, and means connecting the annular member and the capstan whereby torque imposed upon the annular member by the loop is transmitted to the capstan.

2. A twisting spindle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant speed feeding means feeds the strand into the loop, the variable speed feeding means feeds the strand from the loop, and the means connectingthe annular member and the capstan of the variable speed feeding means is such that the capstan drives the annular member in the same direction as the direction of rotation of the loop, and variable engagement between the loop and the annular member variably drives the capstan.

3. A twisting spindle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant speed feeding means feeds the strand into the loop, the variable speed feeding means feeds the strand from the loop, and the means connecting the annular member and the capstan of the variable speed feeding means drivingly connects them for synchronous movement whereby the annular member variably drives the capstan to take-up the strand from the loop upon the rotation of the annular member by its variable engagement with the loop.

4. A twisting spindle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle is a singles strand twisting spindle.

5. A twisting spindle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spindle is a two-for-one twisting spindle.

6. A twisting spindle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spindle is a downtwister, and comprising means on the spindle for winding up the twisted strand issuing from the second feeding means.

7. A method of twisting a strand, comprising feeding the strand at substantially constant speed into a rotating loop, applying a variable pull to the strand to withdraw it from the loop, translating a portion of the energy of rotation of the strand in the loop and employing such translated energy portion as the sole source of power for said pulling of the strand, and varying such pulling of the strand in response to variations of the tension of the strand in the loop.

8. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point,

a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable tension, and means frictionally engaging the rotating loop, deriving driving power from the loop, and responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point for variably driving the second feeding means.

9. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and variable speed driving means for the second feeding means frictionally engaging the rotating loop, deriving driving power from the loop, and responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point.

10. Mechanism as claimed in claim 9, wherein the variable speed driving means for the second feeding means comprises a circular member rotatable about the axis of the loop, frictionally and slippingly engaging the rotating loop, and deriving driving power therefrom.

11. Mechanism as claimed in claim 10, wherein the circular member is the sole driving means for the second feeding means and derives its driving power solely from its engagement with the rotating loop.

12. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a letoff strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable tension, and means frictionally engaging the rotating loop, deriving driving power from the loop, and responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point for variably driving the third feeding means.

13. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable speed, and variable speed driving means for the third feeding means frictionally engaging the rotating loop, deriving driving power from the loop, and responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point.

:14. Mechanism'as claimed in claim 13, wherein the variable speed driving means for the third feeding means comprises a circular member rotatable about the axis of the loop, frictionally and slippingly engaging the rotating loop, and deriving driving power therefrom.

15. Mechanism as claimed in claim 14, wherein the circular member is the sole driving means for the third driving means and derives its driving power solely from its engagement with the rotating loop.

16. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point under a variable tension, and loop engaging means responsive to variations in the size of the loop for variably driving the second feeding means.

17. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed into the plying point, a third means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point under a variable tension, and loop engaging means responsive to variations in the size of the loop for variably driving the third feeding means.

18. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a. plying point, a first means for feeding the first strand at substantially constant speed into the loop, a second means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a third means exerting a variable forwarding pull upon the plied strand for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point, and loop engaging means responsive to variations in the diameter of the loop for variably driving the third feeding means.

19. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point lying generally on the axis of the shaft, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point under a variable tension, and rotatable means frictionally and slippingly engaging the rotating loop for detecting variations in the tension of the first strand approaching the plying point for variably driving the second feeding means.

20. Mechanism for twisting together two strands as defined in claim 19, comprising a flier mounted on the shaft, said flier having strand guiding means which expose a zone of the loop, and wherein the rotatable means is an annular member mounted coaxial of the shaft and engaging and deflecting from its normal path the strand in said exposed zone of the loop.

21. Mechanism for twisting together two strands as defined in claim l9, comprising a flier mounted on the shaft, and wherein the rotatable means is an annular member mounted coaxial of the shaft and engaging the loop at the zone radially outwardly beyond said flier.

22. A method of plying two strands by twisting them about each other, comprising feeding a first strand into a rotating loop about a source of supply of a second strand, feeding the first strand from the loop to a plying point generally on the axis of the loop, feeding the second strand to the plying point at substantially constant speed, twisting the two strands about each other at the plying point to form a cord, applying a variable pull to the cord to withdraw it from the plying point, translating a portion of the energy of rotation of the strand in the loop and employing such translated energy portion as the sole source of power for said pulling of the cord, and varying such pulling of the cord in response to variations of the tension of the first strand in the loop.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising varying the translation of energy from the rotating loop in response to variations of the tension of the first strand in the loop, and applying all of such translated energy as to sole source of power for said pulling of the cord.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, comprising pulling the cord from the plying point more forcibly when the tension of the strand in the loop increases, and pulling the cord from the plying point less forcibly when the tension of the strand in the loop decreases.

25. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable tension, and means responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point for variably driving the second feeding means, the variable driving means for the second feeding means comprising means frictionally engaging the rotating loop and deriving at least a substantial portion of the power which drives it therefrom.

26. Mechanism as claimed in claim 25, comprising a loop creating flier on the shaft, and further driving means yieldably drivingly coupling the means frictionally engaging the rotating loop to the flier and exerting substantially a constant driving force upon said second feeding means under stable operating conditions of the mechanism.

27. Mechanism as claimed in claim 26, wherein the means frictionally engaging the rotating loop comprises a circular member disposed close to the flier and rotatable about the common axis of the shaft, the flier, and the loop, and wherein said further driving means is interposed between the flier and the circular member.

28. Mechanism as claimed in claim 27, wherein said further driving means comprises an air clutch having cooperating spaced impeller blades on the flier and the circular member.

29. Mechanism for twisting together two strands, so as to form a two-ply strand, comprising a source of supply of a first strand and a support carrying a let-off strand package for a second strand, a rotatable shaft operable to rotate a loop of the first strand about the let-off package and also to ply the two strands together at a plying point, a first means for feeding the second strand at substantially constant speed to the plying point, a second means for feeding the plied strand away from the plying point at a variable tension, and means responsive to variations in the tension of the first strand in the portion thereof approaching the plying point for variably driving the second feeding means, a loop creating flier on the shaft,

means for driving the shaft at a substantially constant operating speed, the variable driving means for the second feeding means comprising a circular member disposed close to the flier and rotatable about the common axis of the shaft, the flier and the loop, and additional means for drivingly coupling the circular member to the shaft when the shaft is at rest and rotating at speeds substantially less than its normal operating speed and for uncoupling the additional driving means from the circular member when the shaft reaches a speed close to its normal operating speed.

30. Mechanism as claimed in claim 29, wherein said additional driving means is a centrifugal clutch operatively connected between the shaft and the circular member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 24,380 10/1957 Vibber 57-5883 X Re. 24,662 6/1959 Vibber 5758.3 2,732,680 10/1958 Vibber 5758.83 X 2,857,730 11/1960 Vibber 5758.83 X 3,153,893 10/1964 Vibber 57-583 FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. I 

1. A TWISTING SPINDLE, COMPRISING A ROTATABLE SHAFT FOR ROTATING A LOOP OF A STRAND, A FIRST MEANS FOR FEEDING THE STRAND INTO THE LOOP, A SECOND MEANS FOR FEEDING THE STRAND OUT OF THE LOOP, ONE OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND FEEDING MEANS FEEDING THE STRAND AT A CONSTANT SPEED AND THE OTHER OF SAID FEEDING MEANS FEEDING THE STRAND AT A VARIABLE SPEED, SAID VARIABLE SPEED FEEDING MEANS COMPRISING A ROTATABLE CAPSTAN ENGAGING THE STRAND, AN ANNULAR MEMBER ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON THE AXIS OF THE ROTATING LOOP AND ADAPTED TO BE BRUSHED AGAINST BY AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE ROTATING LOOP, AND MEANS CONNECTING THE ANNULAR MEMBER AND THE CAPSTAN WHEREBY TORQUE IMPOSED UPON THE ANNULAR MEMBER BY THE LOOP IS TRANSMITTED TO THE CAPSTAN. 